Sept. 10, 2004
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina men’s soccer team knocked off No. 16 Portland, 3-2, Friday night at Stone Stadium in the adidas-South Carolina Gamecock Classic. USC improved to 3-0 with the win while handing the Piltos, now 2-1, their first loss of the season.
Ayo Akinsete scored twice for USC, and Ryan Deter tallied a goal and an assist.
“This is a very good win for this team,” USC head coach Mark Berson said. “I’m proud of the way we played. We executed extremely well in the attack, and got in behind Portland a number of times. That’s a very good sign for us at this stage. Portland is an excellent team. Portland is well-organized and has tremendous athletes all over the field. Anytime you beat Portland, you’ve beaten a good team.”
South Carolina drew first blood on Deter’s goal in the 12th minute. The Gamecocks put together some nice combination play as Eric Szeszycki fed the ball to Josh Alcala. Alcala dropped it off to Deter who rifled a shot from 20 yards out into the back of the right side of the net. The goal was Deter’s first of the season.
The Gamecocks went ahead 2-0 at the 29:56 mark as Akinsete tallied his second goal of the season. Szeszycki’s shot was stopped by Portland goalkeeper Luis Robles, but Robles couldn’t gain total control of the ball. Akinsete was able to drop the ball just across the line to extend Carolina’s lead.
Portland responded less than two minutes later when Christopher Sanders rocketed a shot from near the top of the arc and past Guzan into the right side of the goal to make it, 2-1.
Akinsete gave the Gameocks a two-goal advantage once again in the 78th minute. Deter led a streaking Akinsete with a pass and he hit the back of the net from 12 yards out.
Alejandro Salazar scored on a putback for the Pilots at the 84:17 mark, but Carolina was able to hold on for the victory.
The Gamecocks tied the all-time series with Portland with tonight’s victory, 2-2-0.
In other Classic action on Friday, College of Charleston defeated Bucknell, 2-1.
Action in the Classic continues on Sunday. m. Portland faces College of Charleston at Noon, and the Gamecocks will take on Bucknell at 2:30 p. m.
